Wheel and axle assembly



,Dec, 10, 1935. v A. H. OELKERS I 2,023,695

WHEEL AND AXLE ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 7, 1931 JZf/edliOeikefg Patented Dec. 10, 1935 WHEEL AND AXLE ASSEMBLY Alfred H. Oelkers, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Amer-- ican Steel Foundries, Chicago, Hit, a corporation of New Jersey Application December 7, 1931, Serial No. 579,439

22 Claims.

The present invention relates to wheel and axle assemblies and more in particular to antifriction means associated therewith.

Among the objects of the present invention is 5 to provide a novel wheel and axle assembly in which the anti-friction means associated therewith is of such a construction that the life thereof is considerably increased or lengthened.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel wheel and axle assembly including anti-friction means particularly adapted to more equally and uniformly distribute the weight or loads throughout the various parts and portions of the anti-friction means.

In wheel and axle assemblies in which anti- .friction means and/or an assembly is used between relatively movable axles or between a relatively fixed and a relatively movable axle, damage to the anti-friction or roller bearing elements is often caused during the quick changes in loadings or forces transferred from one of these axles to the other through the anti-friction means. As for example, when such anti-friction means is used in conjunction with a wheel and axle assembly provided in railway car constructions, considerable impact is obtained when the wheels of the assembly run over blocks, crossings and rail joints of the railroad track. When a sudden jolt is received from these sources, the anti-friction means which is under load receives excessive loads due to the impact. In present-day constructions, these severe impacts and loads often cause excessive forces between the various parts of this anti-friction means.

Further, in a wheel and axle assembly for a railway car, the relatively fixed axle thereof usually extends beyond the anti-friction means and is adapted to carry a proportional part of the weight of. the car on the outer journal portion thereof. This particular loading causes the axle to be subjected to a bending force which deflects or bends this axle, thereby tending to cause misalignment of the various parts of the anti-friction means interposed between the same and the other axle.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel wheel and axle assembly in association with the anti-frictionmeans so as to overcome the distortion or misalignment of the various parts of the anti-friction means when there is a deflection of the axles of the assembly, whereby these various parts or elements 5 of the anti-friction means are adapted to move under these conditions to prevent misalignment of the parts thereof.

Other objects, features, capabilities and advantages are comprehended by the invention, as 10 will later appear and as are inherently possessed thereby.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in cross section of a wheel and axle assembly made in accordance 15 with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a detached enlarged view in cross section of the anti-friction assembly for the device as shown in Figure 1 of the drawing;

Figure 3 is a view in perspective of resilient or cushioning means adapted for use in conjunction with the structures shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in cross sec- C tion of another anti-friction assembly made in accordance with the present invention. .7

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, an embodiment selected to illustrate the present invention is shown in connection with a wheel and axle'assembly comprising an outer relatively in which the anti-friction means is suitably cushfixed hollow axle or housing 2 having an end hub portion 4 adapted to receive a wheel 6 which maybe pressed or otherwise secured to this hub portion. Within the outer relatively fixed axle or housing 2 is an inner axle 8 which is formed with journal bearing end portions Ill adapted to receive loads from a railway car or the like, by Way of a journal box 12, and the interposed wedge members or brasses I 4.

The outer hub portion 4 of the relatively fixed axle 2 is formed. with a recessed. portion l6 adapted to receive the flange I8 of a closure plate 20, which is suitably secured to this hub portion 4, as by means of the bolts 22, and which also fits around a sleeve member 24 which may be pressed onto the axle 8 or otherwise secured thereto, as desired; The joint between the closure plate or member 20 and'the sleeve member 24 issealed as by means of agasket 26 and a deflector plate 28 which overlap the lip or flange 30 extending inwardly from the closure plate 20, v this lip or flange overhanging a portion of a second sleeve 32 abutting the sleeve 24.

Between the sleeve 32 of the axle Brand the housing 2 is an anti-friction means including an outer race-ring'or cup 34 having a press-fit within the recess l6 of the housing 2, and a cone or inner race-ring 36 associated with the sleeve member 32 and between which are a plurality of roller bearings 38 suitably maintained in position between these race-rings.

In order to resiliently support this anti-friction assembly and to prevent misalignment of the inner and outer race-rings 3B and 34, respectively, upon deflection or bending of the axle 8, a cushioning or resilient means 40 is interposed between the inner cone or race-ring 36 and the sleeve member 32. As clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawing, this cushioning or resilient means may comprise an annular strip or piece of resilient material 42, which is preferably of rubber, or a composition of rubber and canvas vulcanized together, or the like, enclosed by a wrapping of wire 44 or the like, this wire being wrapped around this piece of material in close association in order to provide a member which maybe subjected to severe shocks and stresses without tearing or becoming excessively worn after the same has been used. This resilient means or member 40 is adapted to fit within the space formed between a recessed portion 48 provided on the periphery of the sleeve member 32 and a similar recess 46 provided on the inner surface of the inner cne-or race-ring 36.

It will be quite obvious that the interposing of the resilient means 40 between the collar 32 and the anti-frictionmeans or assembly provides a cushioning effect for absorbing and dissipating the severe shocks to which the anti-friction means has hithertofore been subjected, as also providing suitable means whereby these forces may be uniformly and equally distributed over the various portions of the inner cone or race-ring 36 of the anti-friction means or assembly. Further, this resilient or cushioning means 40 also serves or acts for movably or adjustably positioning the cone or inner race-ring 36, whereby this inner race-ring or cone may adjust itself to maintain, its alignment with the outer cup or race-ring 34 to maintain the line contact between these racerings and the roller bearing members 38, even though the inner axle 8 is subjected to a bending and deflection. Although the resilient or cushioning means 40 is shown as being interposed between the sleeve member '32 and the inner race-ring or cone 36, it is of course understood that the same might be interposed between the outer axle 2 and outer race-ring 34, or, if desired, such means might be provided between the anti-friction means and both of the axles 2 and 8.

In Figure 4 of the drawing, the resilient or cushioning means 50 is likewise disclosed as being interposed between a sleeve 52 and a race-ring 540i an anti-friction means or roller bearing assembly, this cushioning or resilient means 50, however, being of a laminated construction and comprising alternative layers of rubber and canvas suitably vulcanized together to provide a resilient material adapted for the purposes disclosed. I

While I have herein described andv upon the drawing shown an illustrative embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the ininner relatively fixed and an outer relatively movable axle, and a resiliently mounted anti-friction assembly between said axles to cushion radial loads and end thrusts and to permit adjustment of said assembly upon flexure of said fixed axle. 5

'2. A wheel and axle assembly comprising a relatively fixed and a relatively movable axle, an' anti-friction assembly between said axles, and means associated with said assembly to cushion radial loads and end thrusts'and for adjustably positioning certain of the'parts thereof to permit adjustment of the same upon flexure of said fixed axle.

. 3. A wheel and axle assembly comprising a relatively fixed and a relatively movable axle, an anti-friction assembly between said axles, and means interposed between said assembly and an axle for movably supporting said assembly to cushion radial loads and end thrusts and to permit adjustment of said assembly upon flexure of said fixed axle.

4. A wheel and'axle assembly comprising an inner relatively fixed and an outer relatively movable axle, an anti-friction assembly between said axles, and resilient means interposed between said assembly and an axle whereby said assembly is adjustable to cushion radial loads and end thrusts and to permit .adjustment of said assembly upon flexure of said fixed axle..

5. A wheel and axle assembly comprising an inner relatively fixed and an outer relatively movable axle, an anti-friction assembly between said axles, said assembly including an inner and outer race ring, and means between a race ring and axle for adjustably positioning said ring to cushion radial loads and end thrusts and to permit adjustment of said assembly upon flexure of said fixed axle.

6. A wheel and axle assembly comprising an inner relatively fixed and an outer relatively 40 movable axle, an anti-friction assembly between said axles, said assembly including an inner and outer race ring, and resilient means between a race ring and axle for adjustably positioning said ring to cushion radial loads and end thrusts and to permit adjustment of said assembly upon flexure or said fixedaxle.

7. A wheel and axle assembly comprising an inner relatively fixed and an outer relatively movable axle, anti-friction means between said axles, and means between said means and an axle for cushioning radial loads and end thrusts and to permit adjustment of said assembly upon flexure of said fixed axle.

8. A wheel and axle assembly comprising an inner relatively fixed and an outer relatively movable axle, a sleeve member associated with anaxle, anti-friction means between an axle and said sleeve member, and resilient means between said means-and member for cushioning (3;) radial loads and end thrusts and to permit adjustment of said assembly upon flexure of said fixed axle. r 9. An anti-friction assembly comprising spaced bearingv members, antifriction members 5 between'and engaging said bearing members, va sleeve member having a depressed portion spacedv in relation to one of said bearing members to provide an opening therebetween, and- 'cushioning means forsaid assembly disposed in said 7.0

opening. v I 10. An anti-friction assembly comprising spaced bearing members, anti-friction members between and engaging said bearing members, a sleeve mem J61 associated with one of said bear 7 openingtherebetween, means for limiting relative movement between said sleeve and said last mentioned bearing member, and cushioning means for said assembly disposed in said opening.

I 12. An anti-friction assembly comprising spaced bearing members, anti-friction members between said bearing members, a. sleeve member having a depressed portion spaced in relation to one of said bearing members to provide an opening therebetween, said sleeve member being provided with stop means engageable with said last mentioned bearing member to prevent relative movement thereof, and cushioning means for said assembly disposed in said opening.

13. An anti-friction assembly comprising spaced bearing members, anti-friction members between said bearing members, a sleeve member having. a portion spaced in relation to one of said bearing members to provide an opening therebetween, said last named bearing member having a portion cooperating with said sleeve for closing said opening, said sleeve being provided with a portion cooperating with said last named bearing member for closing said opening and providing stop means for said bearing member to limit its relative movement with said sleeve, and cushioning means for said assembly disposed in said opening.

14. An anti-friction assembly comprising an inner and an outer race-ring, anti-friction members therebetween, a sleeve member associated with said inner race-ring and having portions spaced apart to provide an opening therebetween, said opening being formed in part by a recessed portion provided on said inner race-ring and in part by a recessed portion on said sleeve member, and cushioning means for said assemv bly provided in said opening.

15. An anti-friction assembly comprising an inner and an outer race-ring, anti-friction members therebetween, a sleeve member associated with said inner race-ring and having portionsv spaced apart to provide anopening therebetween, said opening being' formed in part by a recessed portion provided on said inner racering andin partby a recessed portion on said sleeve member; said sleeve member and inner race-ring being provided with portions providing an enclosed passage between the same, and cushioning means for said assembly provided in said opening. 1

16. An anti-friction assembly comprising an inner and an outer race-ring having substantially frusto-conical bearing surfaces, anti-friction members disposed therebetween, a/sleeve member associated with said inner race-ring and having portions spaced apart to provide an opening therebetween, said opening being formed in part by a recessed portion provided on said inner racering and in part by a recessed portion on said sleeve member, and cushioning means for said assembly provided in said opening.

17. An anti-friction assembly comprising an inner and an outer race-ring having substantially frusto-conical bearing surfaces, anti-friction members disposedtherebetween, a sleeve member associated with said inner race-ring and having portions spaced apart to provide an opening therebetween, said opening being formed in part by a recessed portion provided on said inner racering and in part by a recessed portion on saidsleeve member, said sleeve member and inner race-ring being provided with portions providing i an enclosed passage between the same, one of said portions cooperating with the inner race-ring to limit relative movement thereof with said sleeve member, and cushioning means for said assembly provided in said opening.

18. The combination of radially spaced axles,

one of said axles being rotatable. and the other of said axles being normally fixed, a wheel mounted upon said rotatable axle, an anti-friction assembly disposed between said axles and including inner and outer race rings, and resilient means between one of said race rings and axles whereby adjustment of said anti-friction assembly may take place upon flexure of an axle.

19. In a wheel and axle assembly, the combination of spaced axles, anti-friction means disposed therebetwen, said means including spaced race-rings, bearings cooperating with said racerings, and resilient means between one of said race-rings and one of said axles to permit relative deflection of said axles.

20. In a wheel and axle assembly, the combination of inner and outer axles, anti-friction means disposed therebetween, said means including spaced race-rings cooperating with said axles, bearings cooperating with said race-rings, and resilient means between the inner of said axles and race-rings to permit deflection of said axles. 21. In a wheel and axle assembly, the combination of spaced axles anti-friction means disposed therebetween, said means including spaced race-- 

